Nicole Little, who is based the Service’s East Ambulance Control Centre, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 27. Now aged 28, she is in remission.
Nicole carries the faulty BRCA1 gene which is known to increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. After losing her mum Celine Mason to cancer at the age of 32, Nicole – aged only seven at the time – is now determined to help uncover everything she can about that genetic link to cancer.
The dispatcher, from Bathgate, has been with the Service for two years, starting as a call handler before becoming a dispatcher.
Nicole had an operation to remove her ovaries on January 19 last year and two months later, she had surgery to remove both her breasts followed by reconstruction. She had since returned to work.
She said: “My colleagues were great as they had chipped in for gifts and were always checking I was ok. My team arranged an afternoon tea during my chemo to cheer me up.
“My manager was very supportive throughout checking up on me and arranging a catch up over coffee frequently so I could keep up to date with things when I returned to work. He was fantastic and couldn’t have handled it any better.
“I visited the control room throughout my treatment to see everyone and make it less daunting returning with no hair. They all looked after me on my return and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more supportive bunch.”
Nicole was first diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer on July 2019, at St John’s Hospital. The next month, she had surgery to remove a tumour from her right breast. She started chemotherapy sessions in September of that year, which resulted in her losing her hair.
To mark World Cancer Day in Scotland on February 4, Nicole is urging people to make a donation to Cancer Research UK or by the charity’s Unity band.
Every year, around 32,400 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland. World Cancer Day is an international initiative, uniting people around the world to beat the disease.
By donating or getting a Unity band, people across Scotland will be raising money to help get life-saving research back on track after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nicole said: “I still miss my mum every day and when it was me in the hospital room being told I had cancer, my first thought was for her. I feared at first it was like history repeating itself.
“Going through cancer made me realise how lucky I am to have people in my life who love me. That’s why I want everyone in Scotland to mark World Cancer Day. Just by wearing a Unity band or making a donation, everyone can help make a real difference to people with cancer.”
A unity band can be purchased by visiting the Cancer Research UK online shop and is available in three different colours- pink, navy and blue.
A door-to-door testing blitz is under way this morning in a bid to find and eliminate every case of the South African coronavirus variant in England.
On-the-spot doorstep tests, home testing kits and mobile testing units are being deployed to reach 80,000 people in eight specific neighbourhoods in an urgent effort to stop the spread of the South African strain.
Health Minister Matt Hancock told last night’s Coronavirus media briefing:
Good afternoon and welcome to Downing Street for today’s coronavirus briefing. And I’m joined by Professor Steve Powis, the Medical Director of NHS England. And Dr Susan Hopkins, who is the Chief Medical Advisor to Public Health England and to NHS Test and Trace.
I’ve got quite a lot of news to bring you up to speed on. Right at the start, I wanted to tell you where we are with our vaccine programme.
I’m so proud of the team, who’ve now vaccinated 9.2 million people across the UK, that includes 931,204 vaccinations just this weekend.
And to put that into context – that’s one in every 60 adults in the whole United Kingdom vaccinated in one single weekend. It’s a mammoth effort.
I know how much these jabs mean to people. And I’m so grateful for all the messages that we get, and all the pictures that I’m sent of people being vaccinated.
It fills me with pride that so many people are doing so much to help for this roll out to happen so smoothly and I want to say thanks to you all.
Care homes
Getting vaccinated is an emotional moment for so many people and that’s because it is about protecting those who are most vulnerable to COVID.
We’ve now vaccinated almost 9 in 10 of all over 80s in the UK and now, as of today, we’ve vaccinated over half of all people in their 70s.
And, I’m delighted that I can tell you we’ve visited every eligible care home with older residents in England, and offered vaccinations to all their residents and staff.
This has been an incredible example of health and social care working together, working side-by-side to protect people most in need.
As Professor Martin Green, the Chief Executive of Care England said today, this is a “wonderful achievement and one that is testament to the hard work of care home staff and our colleagues in the NHS and local authorities.”
And, I want to thank every single person who’s helped us to get this far.
Vaccine supply
I also want to let you know some good news on vaccine supply. Today we’ve ordered another 40 million vaccine doses from Valneva.
As we have all along, we’ve invested early and at risk, before we know for sure if it will come good because from the start, we’ve taken a no regrets attitude to backing vaccines. We’ve tried to leave nothing on the table.
If this gets regulatory approval, the Valneva vaccine, like many others, will be made right here in the UK.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is made in Oxford, and Staffordshire, and Wrexham. The Novovax vaccine is being manufactured on Teesside. And if approved, this Valneva vaccine will be manufactured in Livingston, in Scotland.
We didn’t start this pandemic with a large-scale on-shore vaccine manufacturing capability, so we’re building one, all across the United Kingdom.
The vaccine programme just goes to show how important it is to have the UK working as one, together.
International
We now have over 400 million doses of vaccines on order. This is obviously more than the UK population needs. And my attitude has always been we protect every UK citizen as fast as we can. And at the same time, we’re generous around the world.
I want to say this to our international partners. Of course, I’m delighted about how well this is going at home. But I believe fundamentally that the vaccine roll out is a global effort.
One of the many reasons that I’m so happy with the AstraZenenca contract is that it not just that it gives us a strong supply here but because it is the only vaccine being deployed that’s available to the whole world at cost.
And because it’s logistically straightforward, it can be practically deployed in the poorest parts of the world too.
So, we will protect UK supply and we’ll play our part to ensure the whole world can get the jab.
New variants
Another area where we’re helping around the world is in spotting new variants.
Our global leadership in genomic sequencing has helped us to spot new variants here in the UK, and quickly alert the rest of the world. But there are other countries that don’t have the capacity they need.
Last week, we offered our capacity and expertise to other nations through our New Variant Assessment Platform, because a mutation in one part of the world is a threat to people everywhere.
For example, our South African colleagues spotted a new variant through their high quality genomic sequencing and rightly notified the world, as we did with the variant that we discovered here in the UK.
We’ve now identified 105 cases of this variant here. Eleven of those cases don’t appear to have any links to international travel.
There’s currently no evidence to suggest this variant is any more severe, but we need to come down on it hard and we will. We’ve already made sure that all these cases are isolating and that we’ve done enhanced contact tracing of all of their close contacts.
Working with local authorities, we are going door-to-door to test people in the local area. These cases have been identified in the following postcodes:
W7, N17, CR4, WS2, ME15, EN10, GU21, and PR9
If you live in one of these postcodes where we’re sending in enhanced testing, then it’s imperative that you stay at home. And that you get a test, even if you don’t have symptoms.
This is so important so that we can break the chains of transmission of this new variant. And we’ve got to bring this virus to heel.
So there’s lots of good news, but this is a stark reminder that the fight against this virus isn’t over yet.
Every day, we’re protecting more people and getting ourselves one step closer to normal life. But this is no time to let things slip. So let’s, all of us, do what we must to get this virus under control.
Details of how £11.6 billion of funding from the Scottish Government will be distributed to individual local authorities in 2021-22 have been published.
The settlement provides councils with an increase in day to day revenue spending of £335.6 million, including £90 million to compensate local authorities which choose to freeze council tax and a further £259 million will be added in one-off funding to support ongoing COVID-19 pressures.
In total, councils will receive additional revenue funding of almost £600 million to support vital local government services in 2021-22.
The Scottish Government will also increase a scheme which compensates councils for the loss of income from sales, fees and charges due to the pandemic from £90 million to £200 million in 2020-21.
Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “This budget is being delivered in exceptional circumstances as we continue to battle a pandemic that has shaken our society and economy to the core.
“The local government settlement will help to fund those vital public services that are much valued and needed.
“It includes additional funding of £59 million to complete the expansion of early learning and childcare to 1,140 hours a year, £72.6 million for investment in health and social care and £7.7 million to support the inter-island ferries in Shetland, Orkney and Argyll and Bute.
“Just as we have chosen not to increase tax rates, ensuring people pay no more than last year, I have taken the significant step of offering funding equivalent to a council tax increase of around 3% to councils who choose to freeze council tax. I look to local government to join with me in providing the much needed financial reassurance to those who are struggling.
“We need to focus on how we rebuild and renew our country, and the funding I am providing to local authorities reflects the key role that they will continue to play in that journey.”
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE 2021-22: TOTAL REVENUE SUPPORT
Local Authority
2020-21
2021-22
Change
Change.
£m
£m
£m
%
Aberdeen City
364.6
376.0
11.4
3.1
Aberdeenshire
460.2
479.2
19.0
4.1
Angus
220.2
226.9
6.7
3.1
Argyll & Bute
208.8
213.3
4.6
2.2
Clackmannanshire
103.0
105.7
2.7
2.6
Dumfries & Galloway
306.8
314.6
7.9
2.6
Dundee City
320.1
327.7
7.7
2.4
East Ayrshire
249.9
256.9
7.0
2.8
East Dunbartonshire
202.1
208.0
5.9
2.9
East Lothian
189.2
194.7
5.5
2.9
East Renfrewshire
191.3
196.1
4.8
2.5
Edinburgh, City of
799.6
831.9
32.3
4.0
Eilean Siar
99.8
101.6
1.8
1.8
Falkirk
308.2
315.7
7.5
2.4
Fife
702.4
725.3
22.9
3.3
Glasgow City
1,333.1
1,362.9
29.8
2.2
Highland
493.0
506.3
13.3
2.7
Inverclyde
177.6
181.9
4.3
2.4
Midlothian
178.9
183.7
4.8
2.7
Moray
173.6
180.2
6.6
3.8
North Ayrshire
296.7
303.9
7.2
2.4
North Lanarkshire
673.1
691.2
18.1
2.7
Orkney Islands
78.2
82.7
4.5
5.7
Perth & Kinross
271.0
281.3
10.3
3.8
Renfrewshire
341.9
351.2
9.3
2.7
Scottish Borders
224.0
233.2
9.2
4.1
Shetland Islands
90.0
97.3
7.3
8.1
South Ayrshire
217.4
223.7
6.3
2.9
South Lanarkshire
610.4
625.8
15.5
2.5
Stirling
183.5
188.7
5.2
2.9
West Dunbartonshire
203.0
207.4
4.4
2.2
West Lothian
344.5
353.3
8.8
2.6
Undistributed
51.9
75.1
23.2
44.8
SCOTLAND
10,667.8
11,003.4
335.6
3.1
Speaking after last week’s Budget announcement, COSLA’s Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Gail Macgregor, said: “Given the context this year, perhaps it is not overly surprising that the Budget is very much a mixed bag for Local Government –the main issue is that the overall allocation adds very little into our core financial settlement which has been eroded over the years.
“The Cabinet Secretary, in her speech, recognised Councils’ role as deliverers of vital services and yes on the face of it there is more money but that is predominantly for Government priorities.
“The addition of £259 million flexible funding for 2021/22 will help councils address Covid related costs next year, including providing the support that the most vulnerable in our communities will require but we need solid assurances that if this figure falls short, as is expected, that further funding will be forthcoming.
“To deal with pressures this year, the announcement of an additional £110 million to help compensate Councils for loss of income, which when added to the money we have already had, makes £200 million, is to be welcomed.
“However, for many councils this won’t be enough – income loss will leave a very large hole in their finances for years to come. We welcome that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance has listened to Leaders requests for further funding to cover loss of income but there is still work to do where there is a shortfall.
“We welcome elements of today’s announcement but overall this budget falls short of what we would consider a fair settlement for Local Government. We would anticipate further constructive discussions with the Cabinet Secretary in the next few weeks.”
Anti-poverty campaigners have called for increased action from the Scottish Government to tackle the educational attainment gap, after new analysis (which can be read in full here) found stark gaps in attainment between young people from Scotland’s least and most deprived areas.
The analysis, undertaken by the Poverty Alliance on behalf of The Robertson Trust, examined the evidence on the links between poverty, education and work pathways for young people in Scotland and across the UK.
It found evidence that the poverty-attainment gap – already identified by the Scottish Government as a key priority – shows signs of increasing and risks being further compounded by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The review reveals that as of 2018-19:
Infants living in deprived areas, aged 27-30 months, are 16% more likely to display development concerns
Just over 2 in 5 young people living in the most deprived areas achieve one or more Higher when leaving school (43.5%) compared to almost 4 in 5 young people living in the least deprived areas (79.3%)
Inequalities continue into post-16 education and work pathways with one in ten school leavers living in the most deprived areas in Scotland unemployed nine months after the end of the school year, compared to 2.6% of young people in the least deprived areas.
Despite a range of policies, strategies and initiatives having reformed the Scottish educational and employment landscape over the last six years, most notably the expansion of early learning and childcare and the Scottish Attainment Challenge, the review highlighted Covid-19’s disproportionate impact on single parents and low-income households.
Emerging evidence has also shown the negative impacts of the pandemic on the educational outcomes for children and young people from deprived areas due to the digital divide and lack of access to educational related resources.
Income inadequacy prevents children from low-income households being able to fully participate in education and initiatives seeking to reduce the attainment gap should put reducing financial barriers at the centre.
The review also highlights the importance of initiatives like one-to-one tutoring, mentoring and careers education targeted at young people living in more deprived areas; initiatives that, the review concludes, are currently lacking in Scotland.
Poverty Alliance Director, Peter Kelly, commented:“Scotland is a country that believes that every child should have every chance. However this review makes clear that too many of our young people are seeing their life chances restricted by poverty. The educational attainment gap is stark in Scotland, and is an injustice that we cannot allow to continue.
“We know that the pandemic is compounding the gap. But we also know the action that we have to take to loosen the grip of poverty on the lives of families across Scotland, and to ensure that every young person in Scotland has access to the same opportunities.
“That means using every lever at our disposal to boost family incomes, as well as increasing support for interventions like one-to-one tutoring and mentoring for young people from low-income backgrounds.”
Chief Executive of the Robertson Trust, Jim McCormick, added:“At The Robertson Trust, we are keen to understand how best we can maximise the contribution of education and fair work in reducing poverty.
“This report not only highlights the stark differences in educational experiences that children and young people from different backgrounds face across Scotland but also where some of the evidence gaps currently exist when it comes to what works and why.
“Although many of the findings will be familiar to those working tirelessly to narrow the attainment gap, this analysis shines a bright light on the disproportionate impact Covid-19 has had on those already most affected. This is particularly concerning given the clear link between childhood disadvantage, low educational attainment and future poverty.
“We will use the findings to help us shape our own role as an independent funder in this area and it is our hope that the review will stimulate renewed commitment to act across Scotland.”
A 42-year-old man from the Czech Republic has today, Monday, 1 February 2021, been convicted of money laundering offences after being arrested at Glasgow Airport as part of a Police Scotland and National Crime Agency (NCA) intelligence-led investigation into the export of cash from the United Kingdom to Dubai.
On 8 November 2020, Lukas Pokorny was stopped and arrested by Border Force officers as he was about to board a flight bound for Dubai.
A search of three suitcases in his possession revealed a large quantity of cash in each – totalling over £860,000. He was unable to provide keys to unlock the luggage, or say who they belonged to or what they contained.
Officers from the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) charged Pokorny and today he pled guilty to three charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 at the High Court in Glasgow.
Pokorny claimed he was flying to the United Arab Emirate to stay with a friend and the money was to allow him to teach people to jet-ski.
Detective Inspector Tom Gillan of the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) said: “Targeting the movement of criminal cash and profits from organised crime groups in Scotland remains a priority.
“The arrest and conviction of Pokorny is another excellent example of the value of partnership working between Organised Crime Partnership, Border Force and National Crime Agency officers.
“I welcome his conviction and the significant amount of laundered cash that has been taken out of criminal circulation.”
NCA regional head of investigations for Scotland Gerry McLean added: “This was a significant seizure of criminal cash, the proceeds of organised crime. Taking it out in has prevented that money being invested into further criminal activity, violence and exploitation on the streets of Scotland.
“Working with partners including Police Scotland and Border Force we are determined to do all we can to disrupt the flow of illicit finance.”
The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) is an investigation team comprising of officers and staff from Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency.
Which? is urging the UK’s eight largest retail banks to publicly commit to maintaining cash access for the millions of people in the UK who still rely on it, as its latest analysis shows that 13,000 cash machines have disappeared in just three years.
In a letter to the banks, Which? Chief Executive Anabel Hoult outlines how the coronavirus pandemic has exerted enormous pressure on the cash network, and calls for immediate action to safeguard access to cash to ensure that cash remains a viable payment option.
Which? research last week showed that nearly 10 million people are not ready – or able – to give up cash. However, despite legislation being announced to protect cash for these consumers at last year’s Budget, there is still no timetable in place for its introduction.
The delay has seen what was already a fragile system weakened even further, and last week LINK, the UK’s largest cash machine network, warned that unless action was taken the number of ATMs in the UK could halve in the next two years.
The slow pace of progress towards legislation has created a dangerous vacuum, in which cash machine and bank branch closures continue apace with little scrutiny or oversight to ensure the changes meet the needs of consumers as well as business.
While potential alternatives to mitigate these closures have been proposed, such as cashback without purchase from shops, the speed at which they are being developed and rolled out simply is not quick enough to stem the losses to the existing cash network that show no sign of slowing down.
Since the start of 2020, 3,300 free-to-use cash machines have closed across the UK. The overall number of ATMs in the UK has also fallen by 13,000 in the last three years, falling from 67,300 to 54,400.
In order to prevent yet more damage being inflicted as national restrictions continue, the consumer champion has given firms a two-week deadline to confirm that they will continue membership of two vital industry schemes in the interim period until legislation comes into force, with a regulator in place to ensure that it delivers for cash-reliant consumers.
These voluntary schemes are managed by LINK and the Post Office – both of which currently act as vital guard rails for the UK retail banking system, protecting the viability of cash withdrawal and basic banking services for millions of people. If one of the major retail banks were to withdraw their membership, neither would be viable.
This would mean that LINK’s financial inclusion programme, which is designed to improve access to cash for the most vulnerable and deprived communities, would be under threat, while consumers who live in areas where the Post Office is often the only remaining source for accessing cash would be forced to travel much longer distances to withdraw their money.
Research from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) last year revealed that during the first national lockdown, cash machine closures had already led to tens of thousands of people being cut off from local access to cash.
While these measures will not address all of the problems with the cash network, they are a critically important step in securing the viability of cash until longer-term solutions are agreed and implemented.
Which? is concerned that it will be extremely difficult to reintroduce access to cash in some communities should these voluntary agreements be undermined before legislation is introduced. The consumer champion is urging firms to recognise that a bank’s individual commercial decisions can have a profound impact on the wider cash ecosystem.
As well as this commitment from banks, Which? is also calling on the government to urgently set out its timetable for legislation, and press ahead with giving the FCA the responsibility to oversee the protection of cash in the UK to ensure that it remains a viable payment option as long as people need it.
Which? will provide an update on how banks have responded to our request for continued membership of these schemes once the deadline has passed.
Anabel Hoult, CEO of Which?, said: “Ensuring some of the most vulnerable members of society have the ability to access and spend the cash they rely on to pay for essential goods and services must be a priority for the government, the financial regulator and banks, not an afterthought.
“While there is no doubt that more people than ever are able to benefit from digital banking, that does not detract from the need to provide reasonable access to cash for the millions who need it.
“It is imperative that banks continue to be part of the existing access schemes in place to ensure that the availability of cash is not left to erode even further while legislation is being passed. The government now needs to clarify its timeline for when new laws will actually be in place to protect access to cash.”
New stop smoking campaign urges people to quit now
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Lothian, have partnered together to support those who wish to quit smoking, by launching a new campaign; ‘Don’t Wait’.
Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death in Scotland, and this joint campaign between Scotland’s three largest health boards focuses on the harms smoking can cause and the range of free NHS stop smoking services available to help stub out the addiction.
The campaign features NHS respiratory consultant, Dr Colin Church, emphasising it’s never too late to see the benefits that come from quitting smoking. Watch the video here.
Robbie Preece, Tobacco Control Programme Manager, NHS Lothian, added: “Working across the three largest boards in Scotland allows us to share resources and we’re aiming to have a larger impact with this campaign.
“We are offering telephone and video support, and relaying the key message that quitting smoking is the single most important thing you can do to improve your health.”
Geraldine Lucas, Tobacco Control Lead, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Working in partnership with colleagues across the central belt will allow us to raise the profile of our Quit Your Way stop smoking services which have continued to offer information, advice and support, including nicotine replacement therapy or Champix to people who smoke throughout the pandemic.
“Smoking tobacco damages the lungs and airways causing a range of severe respiratory problems and right now, more than ever, we want to encourage all people who smoke to give quitting a go.”
Shirley Mitchell, Tobacco Control Programme Manager, NHS Lanarkshire commented: “It’s inspiring to see that people are still looking to quit smoking, during such challenging times.
“We have adapted our services, in line within coronavirus restrictions, to be able to continue to support not only those looking to quit, but also their family members and anyone who has queries in regards to stopping smoking.
“Through partnership working, we will be in a much stronger position to raise awareness of this free NHS service available.”
Smoking is linked to many illnesses and long-term conditions, substantially increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, stroke and cancer.
Quit Your Way is a free NHS stop smoking service. To find out more about the stop smoking services and to access the best support to quit in your area, call the Quit Your Way helpline service on 0800 84 84 84 or visit QuitYourWay.scot.
Quit Your Way can be contacted Monday – Friday from 9am until 5pm.
You can also visit your local Community Pharmacy for FREE stop smoking support.
Scottish Book Trust today announces the 11 recipients of the New Writers Awards 2021, which provide a selection of talented writers who have not yet published a full-length book or collection with professional guidance to help them move towards publication, as well as financial support.
Funded by Creative Scotland and run by Scottish Book Trust, the awards have supported over 100 creative individuals since 2009.
Four Edinburgh-based writers have received a New Writers Award: Hazel Knox, Deborah Chu, Thomas Stewart and Tim Craven:
Hazel is a Children’s Occupational Therapist originally from Thurso. She was shortlisted for the 2020 Chicken House Open Coop and given an honourable mention in a 2020 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators slush pile challenge looking for funny middle grade.
Deborah Chu was born in Taipei and raised in Vancouver, moving to Scotland to complete an MSc in Literature and Modernity at the University of Edinburgh. She is currently a Content Editor at The List. She was the recipient of the 2019 Fringe Society’s Allen Wright Award for excellence in arts criticism.
Thomas Stewart is based in Leith, originally from Cardiff, Wales. A writer and an English teacher, his debut pamphlet empire of dirt was a Poetry Book Society selection and is published by Red Squirrel Press.
Tim Craven was raised in Stoke-on-Trent and is now based in Edinburgh. He has an MFA from Syracuse University and completed his PhD thesis at the University of Edinburgh on the characterisation of mental illness in Confessional poetry. His pamphlet, Lake Effect is published by Tapsalteerie.
The prestigious judging panel included Scots Makar Jackie Kay, Niall Campbell and Colin Waters for poetry; Tendai Huchu, Janice Galloway, Denise Mina and Alan Bett judging fiction; and Dean Atta, Lari Don and Hannah Sycamore (Scottish Book Trust) judging Children’s and YA entries. The Gaelic Books Council selects the two Gaelic New Writer Awardees.
Former New Writers awardees include Nicola White, whose novel The Rosary Garden (Profile) was re-released in January; Helen Sedgwick’s third novel Where the Missing Gather (Oneworld) will be published in May 2021 and Man Booker Prize shortlistee Graeme Macrae Burnet will release Case Study (Saraband) in October 2021.
The 2021 awardees are:
Poetry
Nasim Rebecca Asl
Thomas Stewart
Tim Craven
Children’s and Young Adult
Hazel Knox
Sally Costelloe
Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction
Deborah Chu
Gillian Shearer
Hannah Nicholson
Samantha Dooey-Miles
Gaelic
Beth Frieden
Roddy Neithercut
Each of the 11 recipients will receive a £2,000 cash award and support tailored to their needs including mentoring from writers and industry professionals, training opportunities, and the platform to showcase their work to publishers and agents.
Marc Lambert, CEO ofScottish Book Trust, said:“In uncertain times, it is more important than ever to celebrate and discover new writers in Scotland.
“Working within COVID restrictions, Scottish Book Trust will support the awardees through online training, workshops and mentoring. As always, the standard of the applications were very high and we look forward to future publications from this group.”
Alan Bett, Interim Head of Literature, Languages & Publishing, Creative Scotland said:“The list of past winners speaks for itself and gives us all reason to expect that the names on this year’s list will be on bookshelves across the country in future.
“It was a pleasure to sit on the fiction panel and the wealth of talent, while hugely encouraging, made decision making a near impossible process.”
Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said:“The Gaelic Book Council’s on-going partnership with Scottish Book Trust allows us to give Gaelic writers this valuable opportunity early in their careers to work with experienced mentors and develop their craft, and we are excited to be working with new writers of Beth and Roddy’s calibre this year as they work towards their first publications.”
The New Writers Showcase, a celebration of work by last year’s awardees, will be held online through Scottish Book Trust’s social media accounts on Wednesday 31 March. Information about tickets will be available on Scottish Book Trust’s website soon.
Throughout February all households will a receive a leaflet explaining the change in the law around organ and tissue donation in Scotland.
From 26 March 2021 the law will change to an opt out system.
This means that most adults who die in circumstances where they are able to donate will be considered as having agreed to be a donor unless they record a decision not to – what’s known as ‘opt out’.
People will still have a choice. If you don’t want to be a donor you can choose to opt out on the NHS Organ Donor Register at any time, before or after the law changes.
If you support donation, you can still choose to actively record your decision to be a donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register. You can also choose which organs or tissue you would want to donate on the register.
The leaflet contains detailed information about law change and it clearly explains the choices people have. Everyone aged 16 or over in the household should read it in order to understand why it’s important to make their donation decision, record it and share it with family and friends.
The new law will add to the package of measures already in place which have led to significant increases in donation and transplantation over the last decade.
Public Health Minister Mairi Gougeon said: “In Scotland there are an average of more than 500 people waiting for an organ transplant at any one time. The law is changing to help save and improve more of the lives of those on the waiting list.
“Only 1% of people die in circumstances where they might become an organ donor. This means every opportunity for donation is very precious.
“We want everyone in Scotland to understand what this change means for them and to have the right information so that they can make their choice and I would urge all members of the household aged 16 or over to take the time to read the leaflet. Donation remains a personal decision and we’re encouraging people to make the choice that’s right for them – whether that’s to be a donor or not.
“Under the opt out system, families of potential donors will always be consulted to check what their loved one’s latest views on donation were. So, whatever you decide, as well as recording it on the NHS Organ Donor Register you should also tell those close to you about your donation decision to help ensure that it is honoured.”
The Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Act 2019 was passed in July 2019 and will come into effect on 26 March 2021.
Staff normally based at Utilita’s Energy Hub in Leith have signed up to take part in the ‘Future Steps’ campaign – a 10,000 steps-a-day challenge during the month of February to raise vital funds for The Prince’s Trust as the charity works to support young people during these difficult times.
After former prime minister, Gordon Brown, warned that youth unemployment in Scotland could hit 100,000 this winter as a result of the pandemic, Utilita Energy is powering The Prince’s Trust Future Steps campaign, to enable the charity to give young people hope for the future by helping them to develop the skills and confidence needed to move into work, education or training.
Staff from the Energy Hub in Leith – who have been aptly named the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ – will each clock up 10,000 steps for 28 consecutive days throughout February, resulting in 60,000 steps a day and a massive 1.68m steps in in total by the end of February.
To donate valuable funds to help improve young people’s wellbeing and help them to get into work, please visit the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ JustGiving page here.
Debra Clason, Team Leader of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ Future Steps team at the Utilita Energy Hub in Leith (above), said:“With so many young people’s lives disrupted and impacted by the pandemic, their education or career plans may have been put on hold, so it’s important that the support they need to confidently get back on track is there when they need it most.
“We’ll be telling the customers we speak to about the campaign, as well as educating each customer about the Energy High 5 campaign – helping every household to reduce their energy spend by £163 per year.”
Laura Heaton, Head of Corporate Partnerships at The Prince’s Trust, said:“We’re incredibly grateful to Utilita for making Future Steps possible by sponsoring the campaign, and to their teams all over the UK who have signed up to get moving in support of our cause.
“The funds raised will help us to keep up with demand from young people in these anxious times, so that they can get the advice and opportunities they need to get back on track and regain control of their futures – whatever challenges they may be facing.”
Staff from across Utilita Energy are taking part in the challenge this year – from senior management to customer service and energy engineers – with the aim to beat 5m steps they achieved in 2020.
Join them today and raise valuable donations to help young people by visiting:
